Galileo Colt Tops Record Book 1

GALILEO COLT TOPS RECORD BOOK 1 
By Emma Berry and Kelsey Riley 
Wednesday’s top-end trade may have been dominated by Darley-sired yearlings, but the reigning champion sire Galileo (Ire) was back in his familiar spot at the head of the table on the final day of Book 1 when a half-brother to G1 King George & Queen Elizabeth S. winner Harbinger (GB) (Dansili {GB}) joined Ballydoyle’s team of potential future Classic winners after being sold to John Magnier for 2.6 million guineas. 

The somewhat faltering start to the three-day Book 1 Sale was quickly corrected during the second session, with the final day of trade more than making up for any early market hesitancy with records being smashed across the board. Wednesday’s record turnover for a single yearling session in Europe was swiftly beaten when 30,159,000gns was put through the till on Thursday. This led to a record aggregate for any European sale, with the final figure of 79,274,000 being up 13% on Book 1 turnover for 2013. 

The jaw-dropping level of activity during Thursday brought about a median of 190,000gns – up a staggering 58% on the same session last year – while overall the median settled at 150,000gns, a gain of 15%. Similarly, the final day average was up by 56% to 284,519gns with the overall sale average being 235,935gns, a rise of 14%. The average and median overall as well as for the third session were records. With 336 of the 414 lots offered changing hands, the sale’s clearance rate was 81%. 

The King Reclaims His Throne… 
The bidding for the blue-blooded colt was one of the more farcical moments witnessed in a sales ring, with auctioneer Simon Kerins initially struggling to find an opening bid for lot 442. Dropping to the sale’s minimum of 5,000gns, Eddie O’Leary finally up his hand, and once the bidding got into six figures it wasn’t long before the colt’s price soared way beyond the million-mark. Bidders left standing in that dizzying environment were John Warren, who cried enough at 2.4 million, leaving Magnier to have his way. 

Bred by Nick and Anita Ooi at James Rowsell’s Ashbrittle Stud on the borders of Devon and Somerset, the colt is the lone offering by Ashbrittle at Book 1. He emanates from the same paddocks as last year’s G1 Investec Oaks winner Talent (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), whom Rowsell bred in partnership with Mark Dixon. 

“This is a lovely result for the stud, he was a lovely horse and it’s pretty special to be the top lot here,” said Rowsell. 
Nick Ooi, a native of Malaysia, has lived in Darnemouth, England for 30 years, and does business in property and jewelry in Malaysia. Ooi purchased the colt’s dam, Penang Pearl, as a 2-year-old and raced her, the highlight of that career being the Listed October S. at Ascot. The now 18-year-old Penang Pearl had produced four winners over jumps by the time Harbinger came along, and Ooi noted the success of that champion allowed him to breed his mare to Galileo. Penang Pearl produced a Galileo colt this year, and is back in foal to that champion sire. 

John Magnier’s son, M V Magnier, signed for nine yearlings for 6,885,000gns over the three days of Book 1 to be second leading buyer, and he noted after signing the ticket on the topper, “He’s a very nice horse. He’s a half-brother to an exceptional horse and he’s by an exceptional sire. He’s a very good mover, very attractive.” 

Asked how far he expected to have to go for the colt, Magnier added, “The sale has been very strong, and he’s by Galileo and a half-brother to a champion. He deserves to make that kind of money.” 

Remarking on the lackluster start to the bidding, Magnier said, “that was a bit of a surprise!” 
Ginny Whales, who has looked after the Galileo colt at Ashbrittle and led him through the ring, was nearly speechless back at the barn after the sale. 

“When the bidding opened at 5,000gns, I just wanted the ground to open up,” she laughed. “When it stuck again at 60,000gns, I thought the boss was bound to sack me–how could we have got it so wrong! I am just delighted and amazed at the price.” 

Galileo was Book 1’s leading sire, with 22 sold for 12,710,000gns, at an average of 577,727gns. He outdid his younger half-brother Sea the Stars (Ire), who checked in second with 24 sold for 7,125,000gns and an average at 296,875gns. Dubawi was the leading sire by average, with 10 sold for 6,545,000 and an average of 654,500.